friends together having fun
Camp Moomba
Camp Moomba is a peer support and education program for youth living with, and affected by, HIV in British Columbia. It is a lifechanging program where campers (aged 6 – 17) come together for in a camp community where HIV can be talked about openly, and kids can be kids.
Our motto at Camp Moomba is, “friends together having fun.” Led by this philosophy, we blend camp traditions from canoeing to campfire with opportunities for leadership and peer education sessions focused on HIV. Each year, former campers return as volunteer leaders to carry on camp traditions and continue to build this community.
Camp Moomba was first offered in 1998 by the Western Canadian Pediatric AIDS Society, which later became The Moomba Society. In 2015, Moomba merged with YouthCO HIV & Hep C Society to provide ongoing opportunities for youth impacted by HIV after aging out of camp programs. Since 1998, this program has been provided to families at no cost. This program became part of Ribbon Community in 2026.
Each year, we offer summer and winter camp sessions. Moomba, provides a supportive community where we can talk openly about the ways HIV impacts campers’ lives. Camper experience and formal research continues to show that creating opportunities for youth living with HIV to connect with their peers has positive impacts on health and wellbeing. This is just one reason that we are proud to offer Camp Moomba.
Summer 2026 Camper Interest Form
Come to camp.
Potential Campers
Connect with the Team Lead for youth programs at Ribbon Community.
Camper Interest Formcamp moomba is august 3 -7, 2026
Volunteer Opportunities
We’re always looking for health care providers, group leaders, folks to help get campers and supplies to and from our camp buses, peers to lead cultural opportunities and HIV education programming, and folks to help train our team of volunteers.
Whether you’re looking for ways to help from the Lower Mainland, or to spend time on site with our camp programs, we would love to connect with you.
For folks interested in coming to camp, please note camp days are quite long and very full! In a typical day, volunteers get a short chunk of time to themselves.
Camp is a screen-free experience for campers. Volunteers may use screens, although our camp locations have limited cell service and no or limited wifi.
Volunteers share sleeping quarters with others at camp, most often, with campers. Some of our sleeping spaces are gendered, while many are not.
Past campers are encouraged to apply.
If you would like to discuss other options to be part of camp, please reach out.
Become a volunteerWellness Team
Nurses, nurse practitioners, physicians, health care aides, and first aid responders play an important role in the Wellness Team. We welcome registered and/or certified health care providers who can support daily medication administration, a variety of general health ailments, and any first aid needs that emerge at camp.
details
- Work in a group of two or three health care team members
- Review camper health information prior to camp, and get support from HIV specialist providers as needed
- Administer medications, including antiretroviral medications, to campers
- Assess and address the various bumps, bruises, and wellness needs of our campers
- Participate in camp life, including answering questions about living with HIV, sexual health, and taking care of our bodies
Programs Team
Group Leaders work together with one other person to support a group of 8-10 campers to participate in activities and programs. Group leaders spend activity times, meal times, and bedtime with their assigned group, looking after each camper’s individual needs, supporting happy group dynamics, and providing campers with the scaffolding they need to have a great time throughout camp activities.
DETAILS
- Role model a “challenge by choice” approach to participation in camp life and activities – early mornings, chilly swims, and clean up included
- Support campers’ physical, emotional, social, medical and nutritional needs are being met, including adequate sleep, nutrition, and hygiene
- Facilitate group dynamics, including addressing behaviour that disrupts the shared commitment to a fun, safe, welcoming, and respectful experience
- Centre camper experience throughout the program, including seeking support from the Wellness Team and leadership staff as needed
- Work with other staff, including staff from the camp sites that host us, to make camp magic
Planning, packing, setting up, packing, and transporting people and supplies is an important part of camp. Many hands make light(er) work.
Transpo Day
Transpo Day to and from camp is like a short road trip with youth, with a camp bus, a ferry, and sometimes, planes and trains. This may include picking up campers within the Lower Mainland and bringing them to or from our bus pick up locations, or meeting campers at the airport and bringing them to join us. This role happens on our first and last days of camp.
Pre / Post Camp Supply Support
Coordinating camp supplies includes making an inventory list, purchasing additional items as needed, transporting supplies to and from camp, setting up key camp areas like Wellness, and packing it all up, bringing it back, and ensuring it is ready to go for the next camp.
